‘Grandma’s’ garage that housed Nest holds lure for new startups

Genie Laborde, 88, on Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016 at the home she rents out to start-up tenants in downtown Palo Alto, Calif. Silicon Valley tech startup Nest once rented space at this home before striking it big. (Gary Reyes/Bay Area News Group)

PALO ALTO, California: At first glance, the light blue cottage on Alma Street in this Silicon Valley city may not look like a place where big ideas are born. 

But in the past 15 years, this modest house has produced nearly a dozen successful tech companies. Its owner swears there's something special in the air.